Ernesto Rodriguez steps in for Shamil Musaev at PFL Washington D.C
MMA Fighting • 3 min read • Latest: Jul 23, 2026, 10:30 PM
Last updated Jul 23, 2026
The PFL Washington D.C. event on Saturday has lost its main event fighter, Shamil Musaev, who has been forced off the card last minute. He was slated to face Thad Jean for the welterweight title. In his place, welterweight prospect Ernesto Rodriguez will now compete against Jean. Rodriguez was initially scheduled for the undercard. Jean, with an undefeated record of 11-0, looks to add the PFL welterweight title after winning the 2025 tournament. The main card will begin at 10 p.m. ET on Saturday.
- •Shamil Musaev has withdrawn from the PFL main event.
- •Thad Jean will face Ernesto Rodriguez for the welterweight title.
- •Rodriguez originally scheduled for the undercard.
- •Jean is undefeated at 11-0, looking to secure the title.
- •The PFL Washington D.C. main card starts at 10 p.m. ET on Saturday.
- 4:23 AMMMA Fighting — PFL D.C. Results: Jean vs. Rodriguez - MMA Fighting
- 2:15 AMYahoo Sports — PFL Washington D.C. main event fighter withdraws hours before event
- 11:05 PMYahoo Sports — Oh no! PFL Washington DC loses banger main event two days before showtime
- 10:30 PMMMA Fighting — PFL Washington D.C. loses one half of main event, replacement stepping into title fight
- 10:30 PMYahoo Sports — PFL Washington D.C. loses one half of main event, replacement stepping into title fight
"ATLANTIC CITY, NJ - AUGUST 01: Thad Jean looks on before fighting Logan Storley during the finals of the PFL 2025 World Tournament at Boardwalk Hall on August 1, 2025 in Atlantic City, Florida. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images) | Getty Images The PFL Washington D.C. card on Saturday has taken a major hit. Shamil Musaev has been forced off the card at the last minute after he was scheduled to face Thad Jean in a welterweight title fight in the main event. PFL officials confirmed the news to MMA Fighting on Thursday following an initial report from MMAJunkie. There’s no word on what exactly happened with Musaev but he’s off the card and now 11-1 welterweight prospect Ernesto Rodriguez steps into the main event after he was originally scheduled to compete on Saturday’s undercard. Rodriguez faces Jean with the welterweight title going up for grabs. The fight serves as Jean’s latest opportunity to continue his undefeated run in the PFL after he put on an incredibly impressive performance winning the 2025 welterweight tournament. The 11-0 fighter seeks to add the PFL welterweight title to his resume with a win on Saturday. Of course it’s tough news for the PFL but not the first title bout to fall apart during fight week. In the UFC, Islam Makhachev was scheduled to defend his lightweight title back in 2025 but an injury to Arman Tsarukyan forced a last second change to Renato Moicano. Makhachev’s coach and friend Khabib Nurmagomedov also dealt with a similar last second change when he was supposed to fight Tony Ferguson and ended taking on Al Iaquinta on short notice instead. The PFL Washington D.C. main card kicks off on Saturday night at 10 p.m. ET with Jean vs. Rodriguez now headlining the event.
"Bummer. Professional Fighters League (PFL) Washington D.C. just took a brutal late hit. Welterweight superstar-in-the-making Thad Jean was supposed to collide with Shamil Musaev for the vacant Welterweight title this weekend (Sat., July 25, 2026) inside CareFirst Arena in Washington, D.C. Unfortunately, that banger is no more. Musaev has withdrawn from the fight, according to […]
"PFL Washington D.C. on Saturday, July 25 at the CareFirst Arena will be headlined by #3 Thad “The Silverback” Jean (11-0) against #8Ernesto “Starboy” Rodriguez (11-1) for the PFL Welterweight World Championship as Shamil Musaev withdraws due to ...
Sources
External links- MMA FightingJul 26, 2026, 4:23 AMPFL D.C. Results: Jean vs. Rodriguez - MMA Fighting
Thad Jean, Ernesto Rodriguez fight for the vacant welterweight title at PFL D.C.
- Yahoo SportsJul 24, 2026, 2:15 AMPFL Washington D.C. main event fighter withdraws hours before event
PFL Washington D.C. on Saturday, July 25 at the CareFirst Arena will be headlined by #3 Thad “The Silverback” Jean (11-0) against #8Ernesto “Starboy” Rodriguez (11-1) for the PFL Welterweight World Championship as Shamil Musaev withdraws due to ...
- Yahoo SportsJul 23, 2026, 11:05 PMOh no! PFL Washington DC loses banger main event two days before showtime
Bummer. Professional Fighters League (PFL) Washington D.C. just took a brutal late hit. Welterweight superstar-in-the-making Thad Jean was supposed to collide with Shamil Musaev for the vacant Welterweight title this weekend (Sat., July 25, 2026) inside CareFirst Arena in Washington, D.C. Unfortunately, that banger is no more. Musaev has withdrawn from the fight, according to […]
- MMA FightingJul 23, 2026, 10:30 PMPFL Washington D.C. loses one half of main event, replacement stepping into title fight
ATLANTIC CITY, NJ - AUGUST 01: Thad Jean looks on before fighting Logan Storley during the finals of the PFL 2025 World Tournament at Boardwalk Hall on August 1, 2025 in Atlantic City, Florida. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images) | Getty Images The PFL Washington D.C. card on Saturday has taken a major hit. Shamil Musaev has been forced off the card at the last minute after he was scheduled to face Thad Jean in a welterweight title fight in the main event. PFL officials confirmed the news to MMA Fighting on Thursday following an initial report from MMAJunkie. There’s no word on what exactly happened with Musaev but he’s off the card and now 11-1 welterweight prospect Ernesto Rodriguez steps into the main event after he was originally scheduled to compete on Saturday’s undercard. Rodriguez faces Jean with the welterweight title going up for grabs. The fight serves as Jean’s latest opportunity to continue his undefeated run in the PFL after he put on an incredibly impressive performance winning the 2025 welterweight tournament. The 11-0 fighter seeks to add the PFL welterweight title to his resume with a win on Saturday. Of course it’s tough news for the PFL but not the first title bout to fall apart during fight week. In the UFC, Islam Makhachev was scheduled to defend his lightweight title back in 2025 but an injury to Arman Tsarukyan forced a last second change to Renato Moicano. Makhachev’s coach and friend Khabib Nurmagomedov also dealt with a similar last second change when he was supposed to fight Tony Ferguson and ended taking on Al Iaquinta on short notice instead. The PFL Washington D.C. main card kicks off on Saturday night at 10 p.m. ET with Jean vs. Rodriguez now headlining the event.
- Yahoo SportsJul 23, 2026, 10:30 PMPFL Washington D.C. loses one half of main event, replacement stepping into title fight
There’s a new main event for the PFL Washington D.C. card on Saturday.
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